FR2949026A1 - POWER SUPPLY CONTROL DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER SUPPLY OF CHARGER AND VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

Chargers (1) are connectable with vehicles (6). A power control device controls a switching circuit (2) for connecting an electrical power supply line (9) to a charger among the chargers (1). A storage unit of the power control device associates priority information with each of the vehicles (6) and stores associated information therein. When the vehicles (6) are simultaneously connected to different chargers (1), a control unit of the power supply control device controls the switching circuit (2) to connect the electrical power supply line (9) of preferentially to a charger among the different chargers (1). This charger among the different chargers (1) is connected to a vehicle among the vehicles (6) to which a highest priority is attributed.

Description

POWER SUPPLY CONTROL DEVICE, POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER SUPPLY OF CHARGER AND VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a power supply control device and a power supply system. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling a power supply of a charger and a vehicle.

Conventionally, a known vehicle has a rechargeable battery as a source of electricity to accumulate electrical energy to drive the vehicle in motion. In particular, a rechargeable vehicle is configured to charge a rechargeable battery from a power supply outside the motor vehicle. An electric vehicle (EV) and a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) are known examples of a rechargeable vehicle. There are many ways to charge a rechargeable battery from a rechargeable vehicle. For example, unexamined Japanese patent application publications 2008-117444, 10-80071, and 2008-247080 describe methods for charging vehicles from a power source.

Particularly, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-117444 discloses a power supply apparatus in which rechargeable batteries of multiple vehicles are connected in parallel with a power source to simultaneously charge multiple rechargeable batteries. In this case, the power source must have a large power to charge the rechargeable batteries simultaneously and a user who owns the power supply device must enter into a contract with an electric power supplier to consume a significant amount of power. . Basic contract costs for electricity can therefore be high. On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication 10-80071 discloses a control unit for shifting charging times of a plurality of vehicles to reduce the power of a power source. Particularly, a charge order of secondary batteries is determined according to periods of charging time of the rechargeable batteries. However, the charge order of the secondary batteries is determined according to the periods of charging time that does not necessarily reflect an intention of a user of a vehicle. In view of the foregoing and other problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a power control device and a power supply system, each configured to establish an order to charge multiple rechargeable batteries. vehicles from a power source to facilitate the use of a vehicle by a user. An object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a power supply of a charger and a vehicle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a power supply control device is provided for controlling a switching circuit for connecting an electrical power supply line to a charger selected from a plurality of chargers, the plurality of chargers being connectable. with a plurality of vehicles, the power supply controller comprising a storage unit configured to assign priority information to each of at least a portion of the plurality of vehicles and configured to store the associated information in the plurality of vehicles; this. The power supply control device further comprises a control unit configured to control the switching circuit, when at least some of the plurality of vehicles are simultaneously connected to different chargers, in order to connect the power supply line. preferentially to a charger among the different chargers, this charger among the different chargers being connected to a vehicle among the plurality of vehicles, to which a higher priority is assigned.

The power control device comprises the plurality of chargers comprising a first charger and a second charger (1), wherein the plurality of vehicles comprises a first vehicle and a second vehicle, wherein the controller is in a condition. wherein the switching circuit connects the power supply line to the first charger, which is connected to the first vehicle, and the second vehicle is newly connected to the second charger, the control unit being configured to: the switching circuit maintains the power supply line connected to the first charger when the priority assigned to the first vehicle is greater than the priority assigned to the second vehicle; and causing the switching circuit to switch the power supply line to be connected to the second charger when the priority assigned to the second vehicle is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle. The power supply controller includes the storage unit configured to store a priority assigned a validity period, and wherein the control device is in a condition in which one of the plurality of vehicles is connected to one of the plurality of chargers, and the instant is outside a validity period associated with a priority of that vehicle, the control unit being configured to prevent the electrical power supply line from to be connected to this charger, regardless of whether another vehicle is connected to a charger other than that charger. The power control device comprises the plurality of chargers comprising a first charger and a second charger, wherein the plurality of vehicles comprises a first vehicle and a second vehicle, wherein the controller is in a first condition in which the first vehicle is connected to the first loader, the second vehicle is connected to the second loader, a validity period is associated with a priority assigned to the first vehicle, and a validity period is not associated with a priority assigned to the second vehicle, the control unit being configured to cause the switching circuit to connect the power supply line to the second charger at a time outside the validity period of the priority assigned to the first vehicle, and after the first condition, in a second condition in which the moment is in the vali period said first vehicle (6), the control unit (55) being configured to: cause the switching circuit to switch the power supply line to be connected to the first charger when the priority assigned to the first vehicle is greater than the priority assigned to the second vehicle; and causing the switching circuit to maintain the power supply line connected to the second charger when the priority assigned to the second vehicle is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle. The power control device further includes a power supply system configured to connect an electrical power supply line to a charger selected from a plurality of chargers including a first charger and a second charger connectable with vehicles, the power supply system being configured to cause the switching circuit, in a condition in which the power supply system causes a switching circuit to connect the power supply line to the first charger connected to a vehicle, switches the power supply line to be connected to the second charger when another vehicle is connected to the second charger, a priority higher than a priority of the first charger is previously assigned to the second charger. The power supply system comprising: - the switching circuit configured to connect the power supply line to a charger selected from the plurality of chargers; a storage unit configured to assign priority information to each loader of at least a portion of the plurality of loaders; the storage unit being configured to store the assigned information; and a control unit configured to cause the switching circuit, when at least a portion of the plurality of chargers is simultaneously connected to vehicles, to connect the power supply line to one of the plurality of chargers. loaders, with the highest priority being assigned to this loader. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling a power supply of a vehicle from a first vehicle and a second vehicle from a charger from a first charger and a second charger, the method comprising the step of which consists in causing a switching circuit to connect the power supply line to the first charger connected to the first vehicle. The method further comprises the step of causing the switching circuit to switch the power supply line to connect to the second charger when the second vehicle is connected to the second charger and when a priority assigned to the second vehicle is greater than a priority assigned to the first vehicle. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling a power supply to a vehicle from a first vehicle and a second vehicle from a charger from a first charger and a second charger, the method comprising the step of is to ensure that a switching circuit connects the power supply line to the first charger connected to the first vehicle. The method further includes the step of causing the switching circuit to switch the power supply line to connect to the second charger when another vehicle is newly connected to the second charger and when a priority assigned to the second loader is greater than a priority assigned to the first loader. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a power supply system; Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a power supply control device of the power supply system; Fig. 3 is a view showing an example of power supply condition information; Fig. 4 is a diagram showing queued data and invalid case data; Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing a program for controlling a switching circuit according to the queue data; Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing a program for rewriting the queue data and invalid box data according to data of a power supply condition stored in a power supply storage unit; Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing a procedure for loading vehicles A and B according to Example 1; Fig. 8 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of a battery of each of vehicles A and B according to Example 1; Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing a procedure for loading vehicles A and B according to Example 2; Fig. 10 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of a battery of each of vehicles A and B according to Example 2; Fig. 11 is a flow chart showing a procedure for loading vehicles B and C according to Example 3; Fig. 12 is a graph showing a change in a charge quantity of a battery of each of vehicles B and C according to Example 3; Fig. 13 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of a battery of each of vehicles B and D according to Example 4; Fig. 14 is a view showing an example of power supply condition information according to a second embodiment; Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing a program for rewriting the queue data and invalid case data according to the second embodiment; Fig. 16 is a flow chart showing a procedure for loading vehicles A and B according to Example 5; and Fig. 17 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of a battery of each of vehicles A and B according to Example 5.

First Embodiment In the following part, the first embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 shows a power supply system related to the present first embodiment. The power supply system comprises multiple chargers 1, a switching circuit 2, a power supply communication unit 3, and a power supply control device 5. The power supply control device 5 is located in a house 4.

The power supply system is configured to charge multiple rechargeable vehicles 6. Each of the multiple rechargeable vehicles 6 includes a battery 7 and a vehicle communication unit 8. The battery 7 is a rechargeable battery configured to be repeatedly charged. The vehicle communication unit 8 is, for example, a wireless local area network (LAN) for wireless communications. The battery 7 is configured to accumulate electrical energy, for example, from 8 kWh to 16 kWh maximum. The rechargeable vehicle 6 uses the electricity accumulated in the battery 7 as energy to move. In particular, the rechargeable vehicle 6 consumes the electricity of the battery 7 to drive a motor (not shown) to thus move with the motive force of the engine. Such an electric vehicle (EV) and such a hybrid vehicle (HV) are known vehicles that consume electricity accumulated in the battery 7 as a source of energy to move. An electric vehicle moves only with a driving force of a motor driven with the electricity accumulated in the battery 7. A hybrid vehicle moves with a driving force of a motor driven with electricity accumulated in the battery 7, and a driving force of an internal combustion engine. The vehicle communication unit 8 is, for example, a wireless local area network (LAN) capable of communicating wirelessly in the near field with the power supply communication unit 3. The vehicle communication unit 8 stores information relating to a vehicle identity 8a for uniquely identifying the vehicle on which the vehicle communication unit 8 is mounted. The vehicle communication unit 8 is configured to transmit vehicle identity information 8a to the power supply communication unit 3 when the vehicle communication unit 8 is at a distance to communicate with the vehicle. Power supply communication unit 3. The vehicle communication unit 8 detects a charge quantity of the battery 7 via a generally known method. The amount of charge of the battery 7 corresponds to an electrical energy accumulated in the battery 7. The vehicle communication unit 8 transmits several times a group of information concerning the vehicle identity 8a of the motor vehicle and information concerning the amount of charge of the battery 7 to the power supply communication unit 3, when the communication unit is in the communication distance the power supply communication unit 3. For example, the charging unit Vehicle communication 8 periodically transmits the vehicle identity group 8a at time intervals of one minute. In the example of Figure 1, the rechargeable vehicles 6 are two in number. It is noted that three or more rechargeable vehicles can be charged using the power supply system. The multiple chargers 1 are, for example, located in a parking lot adjacent to the house 4. In the example of Figure 1, the chargers are two in number. It is noted that three or more chargers may be provided. Each of the multiple chargers 1 is connectable with a vehicle among the rechargeable vehicles 6 via a power line. Each of the chargers 1 has a known detection mechanism for detecting whether the plug of the power line is inserted into a tap hole (not shown) provided in the power supply device. According to the detection result, each of the chargers 1 sends periodically to the power control device 5, via the switching circuit 2, a signal which specifies whether the plug is inserted or not inserted. Alternatively, each of the chargers 1 can send such a signal when the detection result changes. The switching circuit 2 is, for example, located in the house 4. The switching circuit 2 is an electrical circuit for connecting an electric power supply line 9 with a charger among the multiple chargers 1. The power supply line electrical energy 9 extends outside to provide electricity for the load. For example, the power supply line 9 may come from a power line of an electric power supplier. The chargers 1 are configured to switch a state of connection with the electrical power supply line 9. The switching circuit 2 is configured to switch a device connected to the electrical power supply line 9 according to a control of the device. 5. The switching circuit 2 may for example be a relay circuit of known type.

When one or the other of the rechargeable vehicles 6 is connected to a charger connected to the electric power supply line 9, the battery 7 of the rechargeable vehicle can be charged with electricity supplied via the Electrical power supply line 9. In the present example, the battery 7 can accumulate electrical energy from 8 kWh to 16 kWh, as described above. Thus, in the present example, the electric power supply line 9 is capable of supplying electricity of about 1500 W in order to complete the charging of the battery 7 for a predetermined time. The power supply communication unit 3 is located inside the house 4 or outside the house 4. When a refillable vehicle 6 is in the parking lot, in which the multiple chargers 1 are provided, the power supply communication unit 3 can communicate with the vehicle communication unit 8 of the rechargeable vehicle 6. The power supply communication unit 3 receives information via a communication with the vehicle communication unit 8 and sends the received information to the power supply control device 5. The power supply communication unit 3 is configured to transmit a signal to the vehicle communication unit 8 according to a control of the power supply control device 5. The power supply control device 5 is configured to obtain information from the one 3 and control the switching circuit 2 according to the information obtained and previously stored information relating to a priority of each of the vehicles in order to switch the charger supplied with electricity for the load.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the power supply control device 5. The power supply control device 5 comprises an operation unit 51, a display unit 52, a clock and calendar unit 53, a power supply storage unit 54, and a control unit 55. The operation unit 51 is configured to receive an operation from a user of the power supply system and the rechargeable vehicle 6 and send a signal, which specifies the contents of the received operation, to the control unit 55. The display unit 52 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display configured to indicate a character and a display. image to provide information to a user according to a command from the control unit 55. The clock and calendar unit 53 is configured to obtain a current date and time and to send date information and the current time obtained at the control unit 55. The clock and calendar unit 53 stores calendar information that includes a date (year, month, day) associated with information indicating whether the date is a day holiday including a Saturday, a Sunday, a day off, a summer vacation, and the like. According to the calendar information, the clock and calendar unit 53 sends information that indicates whether today's day is a public holiday and information that indicates whether the following day is a public holiday at the unit. 55. The power condition storage unit 54 is a rewritable storage medium, such as a flash memory. The power condition storage unit 54 is configured to store power supply condition information entered by a user using the operation unit 51. The power supply condition information includes information about a priority assigned to each of the multiple rechargeable vehicles 6. Figure 3 is a graph which shows an example of the power supply condition information. In the present example of the power condition information, the vehicle identity of each of the four rechargeable vehicles is associated with the priority information. In particular, the priorities 2, 1, 3, 3 are respectively assigned to the vehicle identities of the vehicles A, B, C, D. When the value of the priority is higher, the priority of the vehicle is greater. Namely, the vehicle with a larger number has a higher priority. A validity period of the priority may be arbitrarily specified for the priority information. In the example of FIG. 3, a period of validity is not specified for the priority of each of the vehicles A and B. In the present example, the priority of each of the vehicles A and B is regularly valid. On the contrary, a validity period is specified for the priority of each of the vehicles C and D. In the present example, the priority of each of the vehicles C and D is valid only within the specified validity period.

The power condition storage unit 54 further stores information about a loader identity to uniquely identify each loader 1. A user can add the charger identity information using the operation unit 51. In this way, when a charger is added, the charger ID of the additional charger can be easily registered. The control unit 55 is a microcomputer comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and the like. The CPU reads a program stored in the ROM and runs the program in the RAM to perform various operations. During the execution of the various operations, the control unit 55 arbitrarily controls the switching circuit 2 and the display unit 52 to obtain information from the operation unit 51 and the clock unit and The control unit 55 also reads and writes information according to the power supply condition storage unit 54. The control unit 55 further exchanges a signal with the power supply communication unit 3. In the following part, the operation of the power supply system will be described. First, the establishment of a wireless connection between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the rechargeable vehicle 6 and the electric power supply line 9 will be described. The power supply communication unit 3 transmits several times at a predetermined time interval, such as the second, an invitation signal, over a communication distance which covers the locations of the multiple chargers 1. When the Rechargeable vehicle 6 enters the communication distance of the power supply communication unit 3, the vehicle communication unit 8 receives the polling signal. Thus, the vehicle communication unit 8 transmits a connection request signal to the power supply communication unit 3 to request a wireless connection with the power supply communication unit 3. The request signal The connection method may include the vehicle identity 8a and a security key, such as an encrypted WEP Wired Equivalent Privacy key, used for certification in a wireless local area network (LAN) and the like.

The power supply communication unit 3 receives the connection request signal and determines whether the received connection request signal comprises a security key. When the received connection request signal comprises a security key, the power supply communication unit 3 allows a connection with the vehicle communication unit 8. In this case, the power supply communication unit 3 further transmits a signal, which specifies a permission of the connection, to the vehicle communication unit 8. Therefore, the power supply communication unit 3 considers a signal which is transmitted from the unit vehicle communication system 8 and which comprises the vehicle identity 8a as an authorized signal. Namely, the power supply communication unit 3 considers the vehicle identity as an authorized vehicle identification. A wireless connection between the power supply communication unit 3 and the vehicle communication unit 8 is therefore established.

Alternatively, when the power supply communication unit 3 receives a connection request signal and determines that a key included in the connection request signal is not allowed, the power supply communication unit 3 does not allow connection with the vehicle communication unit 8. Therefore, the power supply communication unit 3 considers a signal that is transmitted from the vehicle communication unit 8 and which includes the vehicle identity 8a as an unauthorized vehicle identification and ignores the signal. That is, the power supply communication unit 3 eliminates an unauthorized signal without performing operation for the unauthorized signal. In this case, the power supply communication unit 3 and the vehicle communication unit 8 do not establish any wireless connection between them. In this way, the power supply system considers only the vehicle communication unit 8 of a vehicle, which is previously registered with a security key, as being an authorized communication partner.

Thus, the power supply system operates to prevent erroneous establishment of a wireless connection with an unauthorized vehicle due to an erroneous determination that such unauthorized vehicle parked in a parking lot of a neighboring house would be an authorized vehicle.

Now, the operation of the control unit 55 will be described in detail. To begin, an operation for storing power condition information in the power condition storage unit 54 will be described. A user first performs a predetermined operation to record power condition information in the operation unit 51. In response to the present operation, the control unit 55 causes the unit to display 52 displays a screen to prompt a user to enter a power condition. A user then manipulates the display unit 52 to enter one or more groups of a vehicle identity and a priority. Thus, the control unit 55 associates the entered vehicle identification with the priority entered in each group and stores the associated vehicle identity and priority in the power condition storage unit 54. the control unit 55 for charging the rechargeable vehicle will now be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing queue data 20 and invalid box data 30. The queue data 20 is formed by the control unit 55 in the RAM for the present operation. The queue data 20 stores loader entities 21 and 22 in order. Each of the charger entities 21 and 22 corresponds to one of the multiple chargers 1. Each of the charger entities 21 and 22 includes a charger identity and priority information of a corresponding charger. A method for generating the loader entities 21 and 22 will be described below.

The order of the loader entities 21 and 22 in the queue data 20 defines the load priorities. A charger corresponding to the charger entity 21 at the head of the queue data 20 is an object to which a first priority is assigned and which is intended to be connected to the electrical power supply line 9. Another charger corresponding to the charger entity 22 in the second place of the queue data 20 is an object to which the second priority is assigned and which is intended to be connected to the electrical power supply line 9.

In the example of Figure 4, two loader entities corresponding to two of the multiple loaders are stored in the queue data 20. It is noted that the number of loader entities in the queue data 20 can change from zero to the total number of chargers included in the power system. Similarly, a loader entity 31 is stored in the invalid slot data 30. Unlike the queue data 20, the loader entity 31 stored in the invalid slot data 30 can be added to an order and can be excluded from an order. In the example of Fig. 4, a charger entity corresponding to one of the multiple chargers is stored in the invalid slot data 30. It is noted that the number of charger entities in the invalid case data 30 may change. from zero to the total number of chargers included in the power system. As described above, when a vehicle is connected to one of the multiple chargers 1, a charger entity corresponding to that charger will be generated. In addition, this generated loader entity will be stored in queue data 20 or in invalid box data 30. Whether a loader entity is stored in queue data 20 or in Invalid case data is determined according to whether a priority of the feeder entity is valid or invalid at this time. The storage location of a feeder entity changes as time advances. When this vehicle is disconnected from this charger, the charger entity corresponding to this charger is erased from the queue data 20 or invalid slot data 30. Similarly, when the battery 7 of this vehicle is fully charged the charger entity corresponding to this charger is cleared from the queue data 20. The control unit 55 executes a program 100 shown in FIG. 5 and a program 200 shown in FIG. a rechargeable vehicle using the queue data 20 and the invalid box data 30. The program 100 shown in FIG. 5 is a switching command for controlling the switching circuit 2 according to the data of the queue. 20. The program 200 shown in Fig. 6 is a password operation for rewriting the queue data 20 and the invalid case data 30 on the basis of The control unit 55 is configured to execute the programs 100 and 200 in parallel and repeatedly. When executing program 100, control unit 55 performs operations of steps 110, 120, 140 repeatedly until a loader identity of a feeder entity at the head of the queue data standby 20 changes or until the battery 7 currently connected to the power supply line 9 is fully charged. During the execution of the program 200, the control unit 55 performs operations of the steps 210, 245, 260 several times until a vehicle is newly connected to one of the chargers 1, until a moment beginning or end time of a period of validity of a loader entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30, or until one or the other chargers 1 is disconnected from a vehicle.

In the following, an operation of the control unit 55 according to the present embodiment performed by executing the program 100 and the program 200 will be described in detail for multiple examples. When the power supply system has started, the power supply line 9 is connected to an unloaded connection object. The unloaded connection object is not connected to any of the chargers in the power supply system. For example, the unloaded connection object is a terminal that is electrically connected only to the power supply line 9.

Example 1 Vehicle Priority A, Vehicle B Connected After Vehicle Connection A In Example 1, power supply condition information stored in the power condition storage unit 54 is in the state of the In particular, a vehicle A (rechargeable vehicle) is first connected to a charger P among the chargers 1. After that, a vehicle B is connected to a charger Q among the chargers 1 other than the charger P, while the vehicle A is connected to the charger P. In the present example, the vehicle A is equivalent to a first vehicle, the vehicle B is equivalent to a second vehicle, the charger P is equivalent to a first charger, and the charger Q is equivalent to a second charger. As shown in FIG. 3, the priority of the vehicle A is 2, and the priority of the vehicle B is 1. The priority of the vehicle A is therefore greater than the priority of the vehicle B. A validity period is not specified for the vehicle. priority of each of the AetB vehicles. Namely, the priority of each of vehicles A and B is regularly valid. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for loading each of vehicles A and B in this case. Fig. 8 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of battery 7 of each of vehicles A and B as time progresses. In FIG. 8, a line 41 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle A, and a line 42 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle B. In the following part, an operation in the example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. To begin, when a vehicle is not connected to any of the chargers of the power supply system, the number of charger entities stored in the queue data 20 and the invalid box data 30 is zero. In this condition, the vehicle A approaches the magazine P and stops at the magazine P. As described above, when the vehicle A approaches the charger P and stops at the charger P, a wireless connection is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle A and the power supply communication unit 3. It is assumed that a security key of the power supply communication unit 3 is registered in the communication unit. vehicle communication 8 of the vehicle A. As described above, via the wireless connection, the power supply communication unit 3 considers the vehicle identity of the vehicle A as an authorized vehicle identification. . Then, in step 305 of FIG. 7, at a time TO (FIG. 8), a user connects the vehicle A to the charger P. Thus, the charger P detects that a plug of a power line is inserted into a opening socket of the automotive device and notifies the power supply control device 5 of the detection of the insertion of the plug of the power line. In response to the notification, in step 210 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that a newly connected vehicle exists. Processing then proceeds to step 220. In step 220 (step 310 of Fig. 7), the control unit 55 obtains a vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle. A vehicle identity of a vehicle that has established a last wireless connection with the power supply communication unit 3 is used as the vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle. During a period after a wireless connection has been established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle A and the power supply communication unit 3 and before the vehicle A is connected to the charger P, another wireless connection is difficult to establish between the vehicle communication unit 8 of other vehicles and the power supply communication unit 3. This is due to the fact that it is very rare for two vehicles to stop simultaneously in the same parking lot. Thus, a correct vehicle identity can almost always be obtained by using a vehicle identity of a vehicle that has established a last wireless connection with the power supply communication unit 3 as the vehicle vehicle identity. newly connected. Then, in step 230 (step 315 of Fig. 7), the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is assigned to the obtained vehicle identity, from power condition information. in the power supply storage unit 54. The priority currently read is 2, and a validity period is not specified. Then, in step 240, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader P according to the information read about the priority. Thus, the control unit 55 stores the generated charger entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. Particularly, the control unit 55 reads the charger ID of the newly connected charger. P from the power condition storage unit 54. The control unit 55 thus generates a loader entity comprising the loader identity and the priority, which are read from the storage unit. of power supply conditions 54 in step 230. Namely, the charger entity of a charger in question is data which comprises a charger identity of said charger and a priority of the vehicle currently connected to the charger in question. .

A storage location of a generated loader entity is determined based on a priority included in a loader entity. Especially, when a validity period is not specified in a priority included in a feeder entity and when there is a blank in an order, the vehicle is considered to be immediately loaded. Thus, the loader entity is stored in the queue data 20. In addition, when a validity period is specified in a priority included in a loader entity and when the current date is in the valid period, the vehicle is also considered to be immediately loaded. The loader entity is thus stored in the queue data 20. Alternatively, when a validity period is specified in a priority included in a loader entity and when the current date is outside the payload period. validity, the vehicle is not considered to be immediately loaded even when there is a blank in an order. Thus, the loader entity is stored in the invalid slot data 30.

An order of a loader entity in the queue data 20 is determined based on a value of a priority included in the loader entity. Therefore, loader entities are stored in order from the highest priority (head) to the lowest priority. When loader entities with the same priority exist, one of the loader entities, which is stored in the queue data prior to the other one of the loader entities, has priority and is put on the plus side. elevated in order. In the present example, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the charger P. The priority of the charger P is the priority 2 of the vehicle A, and a validity period is not specified for the charger entity. Therefore, the control unit 55 stores the loader loader entity P in the queue data 20. At this point, the number of loader entities is zero in the queue data 20. Therefore in step 320 of FIG. 7, the control unit 55 stores the loader loader entity P in the lead in the order of the queue of the queue data 20.

Next, in step 110 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 reads a loader identity of a loader entity at the head of the queue data 20. In step 120, the control 55 then compares the feeder identity read from the immediately preceding step 110 to a feeder identity read from the additional previous step 110. Thus, the control unit 55 determines whether the feeder identity is changed. That is, the control unit 55 determines whether the overhead loader in the queue data 20 is changed. When it is determined that the overhead loader in the queue data 20 is unchanged, the process proceeds to step 140. Alternatively, when it is determined that the loader is in the lead in the queue data. wait 20 is changed, processing proceeds to step 130. In the present example, a loader entity does not exist in the queue data 20 in the previous additional step 110 or step immediately. Therefore, the current loader identity is a null value. In addition, the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110 is the charger ID of the charger P. The control unit 55 therefore determines that the charger identity is changed. Thus, the processing proceeds to step 130.

Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs a switching control of the switching circuit 2. In particular, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger P, which corresponds to the charger entity at the head in the order of the queue data 20. Thus, the connected destination of the power supply line 9 is switched to the charger P In this way, in step 325, charging of the charger P to the vehicle A is started via the electric power supply line 9. At this time, a charge amount of the battery 7 of the vehicle A is A0 (Figure 8). As represented by the line 41 of a time TO at a time T1 in FIG. 8, the battery 7 of the vehicle A is charged, and the charge amount of the battery 7 increases as the time advances. Particularly, the battery 7 of the vehicle A is charged after the start of the charging of the vehicle A until another vehicle is connected to another charger of the power supply system.

In this way, by executing the program 100, the control unit 55 determines that the battery 7 currently charged in step 140 is not fully charged, whereas the charge amount of the battery 7 increases by time TO at time T1. Thus, the process returns to step 110 again, and control unit 55 obtains the identity of forward loader in the queue. Then, in step 120, the control unit 55 determines that there is no change in the charger identity. Thus, the control unit 55 repeats the operation to return to step 140. As described above, the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle A repeatedly transmits information regarding the amount of charge of the battery 7 of vehicle A to the lawful vehicle identity. The control unit 55 determines whether the battery 7 of the vehicle A is fully charged based on the amount of charge information received from the power supply communication unit 3 together with the lawful vehicle identity. In view of the present operation, the control unit 55 can store a charge amount of the battery 7 of each vehicle when the battery 7 is fully charged. The information regarding the amount of charge transmitted from the vehicle communication unit 8 may specify a rate of the present amount of charge relative to the amount of charge when the battery 7 is fully charged. In this way, in step 245, the control unit 55 determines whether any of the following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied by the execution of the program 200, while the amount of charge of the battery 7 increases from the time TO to the time T1. When at least one of the conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied, the processing proceeds to step 250. In a variant, when none of the conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied, processing proceeds to step 260. (1) The validity period of the priority of the loader entity in the queue data terminates. (2) The validity period of the feeder entity priority in the invalid slot data begins. Namely, the control unit 55 determines whether the validity of the priority changes as the time advances. In the present example, there is no loader entity in the invalid slot data 30, and a validity period is not specified for the loader loader entity priority P in the queue data. 20. Therefore, none of the conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied. Thus, processing proceeds to step 260. In step 260, the control unit 55 determines whether at least one connection between a charger and a vehicle is released based on a signal from each charger. When at least one connection is released, the process proceeds to step 270. Alternatively, when no connection is released, the process returns to step 210. In the present example, a connection is not released, and the process returns to step 210. In addition, in the present example, another vehicle is not newly connected to a TO loader at time T1. Thus, step 210 performs a negative determination, and the process goes back to step 245. In this manner, each of steps 210, 240, 260 performs a negative determination of time TO until time T1. Thus, vehicle A continues to be charged, while there is no change in the queue data 20 and the invalid box data 30. Here it is assumed that the vehicle B approaches the charger Q and stops at the charger Q. As described above, when the vehicle B approaches the charger Q and stops at the charger Q, a conne The wireless communication is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle B and the power supply communication unit 3. It is assumed that a security key of the power supply communication unit 3 is stored in the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle B. As described above, via the wireless connection, the power supply communication unit 3 considers the vehicle identity of the vehicle B as being an authorized vehicle identification. Next, in step 330 of FIG. 7, at a time T1 (FIG. 8), a user connects the vehicle B to the charger Q. Thus, the charger Q detects that a plug of a power line is inserted into a opening socket of the automotive device and notifies the power supply control device 5 of the detection of the insertion of the plug of the power line. In response to the notification, in step 210 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that a newly connected vehicle exists. Processing then proceeds to step 220. In step 220 (step 335 of FIG. 7), the control unit 55 obtains a vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle, namely, the vehicle B. Then, at step 230 (step 340 of Fig. 7), the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is associated with the obtained vehicle identity of the vehicle B, from power condition information. in the power supply storage unit 54. The current read priority is 1, and a validity period is not specified. Then, in step 240, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader Q according to the information read about the priority, similarly to the feeder unit of the loader P. Thus, the unit controller 55 stores the generated feeder entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. Namely, the charger entity of the charger Q is data which includes a charger loader ID Q and a priority of the vehicle B currently connected to the charger Q. In the present example, the priority of the charger entity of the charger Q is the priority 1 of the vehicle B, and a validity period is not specified. Therefore, the loader entity of the loader Q is stored in the queue data 20. In addition at this time, the queue data 20 includes only the loader entity of the loader P with the priority 2 Thus, in step 345 of Fig. 7, the control unit 55 stores the charger unit of the charger Q in the second place in the order of the queue data 20. In this condition, the loader entity of the loader Q is stored in the queue data 20. Even in the present condition, there is no change in the loader identity of the feeder entity in the data head Thus, in step 120 of Fig. 5, a negative determination is made, and the switching command of step 130 is not performed. Namely, the load of the vehicle A with a higher priority than that of the vehicle B continues. Vehicle B does not start charging at this time. At time T1, the charge amount of vehicle B is B0. After that, the load of vehicle A continues. At time T2 in FIG. 8, the charge amount of battery 7 of vehicle A increases to Amax, and battery 7 is fully charged. Thus, in step 140 of FIG. 5 (step 350 of FIG. 7), the control unit 55 determines that the battery 7 is fully charged. Then, in step 150 (step 355 of Fig. 7), the control unit 55 clears the overhead feeder entity in the queue data from the queue data 20. In this way, the charger entity of the charger P is erased. Therefore, the charger entity of the charger Q becomes a charger entity at the head in the order of the queue data 20. In the next step 110, the control unit 55 obtains the identity of the charger of the loader Q as loader identity of the overhead loader entity in the queue data 20. The control unit 55 then determines that there is a change in the loader identity obtained in step 120 and, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. In particular, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger Q, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. this way, in step 360 of FIG. 7, the loaded object is changed to become vehicle B. Thus, the load of the vehicle B is started. The queue data 20 does not change unless another vehicle is connected to the charger 1. As shown by line 42 in Fig. 8, the load of the vehicle B continues, and the amount of charge of the battery 7 increases. Finally, at step 365, at time T3, the charge amount of the battery 7 of the vehicle B increases to Bmax, and the battery 7 is fully charged. Thus, in step 140, the control unit 55 determines that the battery 7 of the vehicle B is fully charged, and in step 150 the control unit 55 clears the charger entity of the charger Q by in the queue data 20. In the next step 110, the control unit 55 obtains null data as the loader entity of the overhead feeder entity in the queue data. 20. Then, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the charger identity obtained in step 120, and in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the control of switching. In particular, the control unit 55 connects the power supply line 9 to an unloaded connection object corresponding to the null data. Thus, the load of the vehicle B is completed. As described above, it is assumed that the first vehicle (vehicle A) is connected to the first charger (charger P), and the switching circuit 2 causes the power supply line 9 to be connected to the first charger (P charger). In such a condition, at the time T 1 of FIG. 8, when the second vehicle (vehicle B) is newly connected to the second charger (charger 0) and when the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle A) in the storage unit of power condition 54 is greater than the priority assigned to the second vehicle (vehicle B) in the power condition storage unit 54, the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to maintain the connected destination of the electric power supply line 9 to the first charger (charger P). After the charge of the vehicle A is completed at time T2, the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to switch the connected destination from the power supply line 9 to the charger Q, thereby starting charging. of the vehicle B.

Example 2 Priority of Vehicle A, Vehicle Connected After Connection of Vehicle B In the following, an operation of the power supply system according to Example 2 will be described. In the present example 2, power supply condition information shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the power supply condition storage unit 54. The vehicle B is first connected to the charger P. After that, the vehicle A is connected to the charger Q, while the vehicle B is connected to the charger P. Namely, in this example 2, a connection order of the vehicle A and the vehicle B is different from that in example 1. In the present example 2, the vehicle B is equivalent to a first vehicle, the vehicle A is equivalent to a second vehicle, the charger P is equivalent to a first charger, and the charger Q is equivalent to a second charger.

Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing a procedure for loading each of vehicles A and B in this case. Fig. 10 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of battery 7 of each of vehicles A and B as time progresses. In FIG. 10, a line 43 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle A, and a line 44 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle B. In the following part, an operation in the example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 9, 10. First, when a vehicle is not connected to any of the chargers of the power supply system, the number of charger entities stored in the data Queue 20 and invalid case data 30 is zero. As described above, when the vehicle B approaches the charger P and stops at the charger P, a wireless connection is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle B and the power supply communication unit. 3. Then, in step 405 of FIG. 9, at a time T10 (FIG. 10), a user connects the vehicle B to the charger P. Thus, the charger P detects that a plug of a power line is inserted in the engagement aperture of the automobile device and notifies the power supply control device 5 of the detection of the insertion. In response to the notification, in step 210 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that a newly connected vehicle exists. Thereafter, processing proceeds to step 220. In step 220 (step 410 of Fig. 9), the control unit 55 obtains a vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle. Then, in step 230 (step 415 of Fig. 9), the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is assigned to the obtained vehicle identity of the vehicle B, from condition information. in the power supply storage unit 54. The priority currently read is 1, and a validity period is not specified. Then, in step 240, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader P according to the information read about the priority. Thus, the controller 55 stores the generated charger entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. Namely, the charger entity of the charger P is comprised of data that includes a loader loader identity P and a priority of vehicle B currently connected to charger P.

In the present example, the priority of the charger entity of the charger P is the priority 1 of the vehicle B, and a valid period is not specified. Therefore, the loader entity of the loader P is stored in the queue data 20. At this point, the number of loader entities is zero in the queue data 20. Therefore, at step 420 of FIG. 9, the control unit 55 stores the loader loader entity P in the lead in the order of the queue of the queue data 20. At the step 110 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 reads the charger ID of the charger P overhead in the queue data 20. Then, in step 120, the control unit 55 determines that the charger identity at the beginning of the queue is changed from the null value to the charger ID of the charger P. Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching command. Particularly, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger P, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. in this way, in step 425 of Fig. 9, the loaded object is changed to vehicle B. Thus, the load of vehicle B is started. After that, no vehicle except the vehicle B is connected to the time charger T10 at time Ti 1 in Fig. 10, and thus there is no change in the queue. Thus, as represented by the line 44 in FIG. 10, the load of the vehicle B continues to increase the amount of charge of the battery 7 of the vehicle B. It is assumed here that the vehicle A approaches the charger Q and Q. As described above, when the vehicle A approaches the charger Q and stops at the charger Q, a wireless connection is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle A and the unit. 3. Through the wireless connection, the power supply communication unit 3 considers the vehicle identity of the vehicle A as an authorized vehicle identification. Then, in step 430 of FIG. 9, at a time T11 (FIG. 10), a user connects the vehicle A to the charger Q. Thus, at the step 210 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that a newly connected vehicle exists on the basis of the signal from the charger Q. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 220. In step 220 (step 435 of FIG. 9), the control unit 55 obtains the vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle, namely, vehicle A.

Then, at step 230 (step 440 of Fig. 9), the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is associated with the obtained vehicle identity of the vehicle A, from condition information. in the power supply storage unit 54. The priority currently read is 2, and a validity period is not specified.

Then, in step 240, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader Q according to the information read about the priority, similarly to the feeder unit of the loader P. Thus, the unit controller 55 stores the generated feeder entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. Namely, the charger entity of the charger Q is data which includes a charger loader ID Q and a priority of the vehicle A currently connected to the charger Q. In the present example, the priority of the loader entity of the charger Q is the priority 2 of the vehicle A, and a validity period is not specified. Therefore, the charger entity of the charger Q is stored in the queue data 20. In addition, at this time, the queue data 20 includes only the charger entity of the charger P with the priority 1. Thus, in step 445 of FIG. 9, the control unit 55 stores the loader entity of the top loader Q in the queue data 20. Thus, the order of the entity charger charger Q is demoted to second place in order. In step 110 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 reads the charger ID of the P charger at the beginning in the queue data 20. Then, in step 120, the control unit 55 determines that the feeder identity at the beginning of the queue is changed from the charger identity of the charger P to the charger identity of the charger Q, and, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching command. In particular, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger Q, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. in this way, in step 447 of FIG. 9, the loaded object is changed from the vehicle B to the vehicle A. Thus, the load of the vehicle A is started, and the load of the vehicle B is completed. After that, the load of vehicle A continues. At time T12 in FIG. 10, the charge amount of battery 7 of vehicle A increases to Amax, and battery 7 is fully charged. Thus, in step 140 of FIG. 5 (step 450 of FIG. 7), the control unit 55 determines that the battery 7 is fully charged. Then, in step 150 (step 455 of Fig. 7), the control unit 55 clears the overhead feeder entity in the queue data 20 from the queue data 20. In this way, the charger entity of the charger Q is erased. Therefore, the charger entity of the charger P becomes a charger entity in the lead in the order of the queue data 20. In the next step 110, the control unit 55 obtains the identity of the charger of the loader P as loader identity of the overheader entity in the queue data 20. Then, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change of the loader identity obtained in step 120 and, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. Particularly, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger P, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. in this way, in step 460 of Fig. 9, the charged object is again changed to become the vehicle B. Thus, the load of the vehicle B is started. The queue data 20 does not change unless another vehicle is connected to the charger 1. As shown by line 44 in Fig. 10, the load of the vehicle B continues, and the amount of charge of the battery 7 increases. Finally, in step 465, at time T13, the charge amount of the battery 7 of the vehicle B increases to Bmax, and the battery 7 is fully charged. Thus, in step 140, the control unit 55 determines that the battery 7 of the vehicle B is fully charged. Thus, in step 150, the control unit 55 clears the charger entity of the P charger at the beginning of the queue data 20. At the next step 110, the control unit 55 obtains null data as charger ID of the overhead feeder entity in the queue data 20. Next, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the loader identity obtained in step 120 and, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. Particularly, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to an unloaded connection object corresponding to the null data.

As described above, it is assumed that the first vehicle (vehicle B) is connected to the first charger (charger P), and the switching circuit 2 causes the power supply line 9 to be connected to the first charger (P charger). In such a condition, at the time Ti 1 of FIG. 10, when the second vehicle (vehicle A) is newly connected to the second charger (charger Q) and when the priority assigned to the second vehicle (vehicle A) in the storage unit of power condition 54 is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle B) in the power condition storage unit 54, the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to switch the connection destination of the power supply line 9 of the first charger (charger P) to the second charger (charger Q). Thus, the load of the vehicle B is interrupted, and the load of the vehicle A is started. After the charging of the vehicle A is completed at time T12, the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to switch the connection destination of the electric power supply line 9 of the second charger (charger Q ) to the first charger (charger P), thus starting the charging of the vehicle B. In the operations of examples 1 and 2, it is assumed that the first vehicle is connected to the first charger and is charged. In such a condition, the second vehicle is connected to the second charger. In this case, when the first vehicle has a higher priority, the load of the first vehicle is continued. Alternatively, when the second vehicle has a higher priority, the load destination is changed to become the second vehicle, and so the second vehicle is loaded.

Example 3 Vehicle Priority C (with Period of Validity), Vehicle B Connected After Vehicle Connection C In the following, an operation of the power supply system according to Example 3 will be described. In the present example 3, the power supply storage unit 54 stores power supply condition information shown in FIG. 3. The vehicle C is first connected to the charger P before night off hours. Then, the vehicle B is connected to the charger Q before the off-peak hours, while the vehicle C is connected to the charger P. After that, the time elapses to be in the off-peak hours. In the present example 3, the vehicle C is equivalent to a first vehicle, the vehicle B is equivalent to a second vehicle, the charger P is equivalent to a first charger, and the charger Q is equivalent to a second charger. As shown in FIG. 3, the priority of the vehicle C is 3, and the priority of the vehicle B is 1. Therefore, the priority of the vehicle C is greater than the priority of the vehicle B. A validity period is not specified for the priority of the vehicle B, and a validity period is specified for the priority of the vehicle C. Especially, nocturnal off-peak hours are specified as a period of validity at the priority of the vehicle C. Night-time off-peak hours are, for example, from 23:00 to 07:00 the next day. For example, such a period of validity is specified for a vehicle mainly used for the daily round trip from home to work, as exemplified by the vehicle C. It is sufficient that such a vehicle mainly used for the one-way trip - Daily return from home to work be charged before leaving for work the next day. It is noted that when the charge is completed much sooner than the commencement of use as such, the amount of charge may decrease due to electrical self discharge as time progresses. Thus, in this case, the battery is preferably charged during the off-peak hours, during which the electricity bill is reduced, and the charging of the battery is preferably prohibited for a period before the off-peak hours.

In this case, it is assumed that the battery is charged only in the off-peak hours. In addition, it is assumed that some time exists after a user returns from work and before off-peak hours, during which electricity billing is reduced. Even in this case, it is more convenient for a user to connect the vehicle to the loader immediately after the user's return from work, rather than wait for the start of the off-peak hours and connect a vehicle to a loader after the beginning of the nocturnal hollow hours. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for loading each of vehicles B and C in this case. Fig. 12 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of battery 7 of each of vehicles B and C as time progresses. In FIG. 12, a line 45 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle B, and a line 46 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle C. In the following part, an operation in the example 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 11, 12. First, when a vehicle is not connected to any of the chargers of the power supply system, the number of charger entities stored in the data Queue 20 and invalid case data 30 is zero. As described above, when the vehicle C approaches the charger P and stops at the charger P, a wireless connection is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle C and the power supply communication unit. 3. Next, at step 505 of Fig. 11, at a time T20 (Fig. 12), a user connects the vehicle C to the charger P. The time T20 is outside the off-peak hours. In step 210 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that a newly connected vehicle exists on the basis of a signal from the charger P. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 220. In step 220 (step 510 of Fig. 11), the control unit 55 obtains a vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle, and in step 230 (step 515 of Fig. 11) the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is attributed to the vehicle identity obtained from the vehicle C, from power supply condition information in the power supply storage unit 54. The priority currently being read is 3, and the validity period is specified as the night off hours. Then, in step 240 (step 520 of Fig. 11), the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader P according to the information read about the priority. Thus, the controller 55 stores the generated charger entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. The charger entity of the charger P consists of data that includes a charger identity of the charger P and a priority of the vehicle C currently connected to the charger P. In the present example, the priority of the charging entity of the charger P is the priority 3 of the vehicle C, and the period of validity is specified as the hours nocturnal hollow. Thus, at time T20, the control unit 55 stores the charger loader entity P in the invalid slot data 30. In the present state, the queue data 20 is always empty. The control unit 55 therefore repeatedly carries out negative determinations in steps 120 and 140 by executing the program 100 of FIG. 5. As a result, the electric power supply line 9 is not connected to the charger P, and the battery 7 of the vehicle C is not charged. After that, the vehicle B approaches the charger Q and stops at the charger Q before the off-peak hours, while the battery 7 of the vehicle C is not charged. Thus, a wireless connection is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle B and the power supply communication unit 3. Then, at the step 525 of FIG. 11, at a time T21 (FIG. 12) before the off-peak hours, a user connects the vehicle B to the charger Q. Thus, in step 210 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that a newly connected vehicle exists on the basis of the signal which from the charger Q. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step 220. In step 220 (step 530 of Fig. 11), the control unit 55 obtains the vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle B. Next, in step 230 (step 535 of Fig. 11), the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is assigned to the obtained vehicle identity of the vehicle B, from condition information of power supply in the power condition storage unit 54. The priority currently read is 1, and a validity period is not specified. Then, in step 240, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader Q according to the information read about the priority, similarly to the feeder unit of the loader P. Thus, the unit controller 55 stores the generated feeder entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. Namely, the charger entity of the charger Q is data which includes a charger loader ID Q and a priority of the vehicle B currently connected to the charger Q. In the present example, the priority of the charger entity of the charger Q is the priority 1 of the vehicle B, and a validity period is not specified. Therefore, the loader entity of the loader Q is stored in the queue data 20. At this point, the number of the loader entities is zero in the queue data 20. Therefore, at step 540 of FIG. 11, the control unit 55 stores the loader loader entity Q at the head in the order of the queue of the queue data 20. At the step 110 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 reads the loader ID of the top loader Q in the queue data 20. Next, in step 120, the control unit 55 determines that the loader identity at the beginning of the queue is changed from the null value to the charger ID of the Q loader.

Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. In particular, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger Q, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. In this way, at step 545 of FIG. 11, the load of the vehicle B is started via the charger Q. After that, the load of the vehicle B is continued. In this condition, in step 550 of FIG. 11, it is assumed that the time elapses to be in the off-peak hours at time T22 of FIG. 12. At step 245 of FIG. control unit 55 determines that this is the period of validity of the loader P charger entity in the invalid slot data 30. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 250. In step 250 the control unit 55 updates content in the queue data 20 and the invalid box data 30. Particularly, the control unit 55 moves the charger loader entity P of the invalid box data 30 to the queue data 20. The priority of the charger entity of the charger P is greater than the priority of the charger entity of the charger Q. Thus, in step 555 of FIG. control 55 stores the loader entity of the P loader at the head in the queue data 20. Thus, the order of the Q charger feeder entity is downgraded to second place in order. In step 120 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines that the feeder identity at the beginning of the queue is changed from the charger identity of the charger Q to the charger loader identity. P. Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. Particularly, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger P, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. In this way, in step 560 of Fig. 11, the loaded object is changed from vehicle B to vehicle C. Thus, the load of vehicle C is started, and the load of vehicle B is completed.

After that, the load of the vehicle C is continued. The nocturnal off-peak hours end at time T23 of Figure 12 (step 565 of Figure 11). In the present state, in step 245 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that the period of validity of the loader charger entity P in the queue data 20 ends. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step 250. In step 250, the control unit 55 updates a content of the queue data 20 and invalid case data 30. Particularly, at step 570 of In FIG. 11, the control unit 55 moves the charger loader entity P from the queue data 20 to the invalid box data 30. Thus, the order of the loader entity of the charger Q is reassembled. up to the head in order. Thus, in step 120 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the obtained charger identity. Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. In particular, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger Q. In this way, in step 575 of FIG. is again changed to become the vehicle B. Thus, the load of the vehicle C is over, and the load of the vehicle B is restarted.

After that, in step 580 of Fig. 11, it is assumed that the vehicle B is disconnected from the charger Q before the battery 7 of the vehicle B is fully charged. In this case, in step 260 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that the connection between the charger Q and the vehicle is released on the basis of a signal sent from the charger Q. The signal sent from the Q loader specifies that the connection is released. Then, at step 270 (step 585 of FIG. 11), the control unit 55 clears the charger entity of the charger Q from the queue data 20 (or invalid slot data 30). . Thus, in step 120 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the obtained charger identity. Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. Particularly, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to an unloaded connection object corresponding to the null data. As described above, the validity period of the priority can be specified for the priority of the vehicle C, which can be stored in the power supply storage unit 54. When the vehicle C is connected to the charger P and at a time outside the period of validity of the priority of the vehicle C, which is from time T20 to time T22, the control unit 55 prevents the establishment of the connection between the power supply line 9 and the charger P, regardless of the existence of a vehicle connected to a charger other than the charger P. Even when only one vehicle is connected to a charger, it is not necessarily preferred that the vehicle is loaded immediately . For example, as described above, it is more convenient for a user to connect a vehicle, which is mainly used for the daily round trip from home to work, to a loader immediately after returning from work. 'user. In addition, the load can be performed at low cost when the vehicle is loaded after the start of the off-peak hours. In consideration of this, as described above, the validity period can be set to the priority assigned to the vehicle C. Thus, regardless of whether another vehicle is connected to a charger other than a charger connected to the vehicle C , this charger can be prevented from being connected to the power supply line at a time outside the period of validity of the priority. On the contrary, at a time other than the off-peak hours, the vehicle B, whose regular use is very likely, is loaded more preferentially than the vehicle C each time it is connected. It is assumed that the first vehicle (vehicle C) is connected to the first charger (charger P), the second vehicle (vehicle B) is connected to the second charger (charger Q), the validity period is specified for the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle C), and the period of validity is not specified for the priority assigned to the second vehicle (vehicle B) in the power supply storage unit 54. In the present state, the unit The control circuit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to connect the power supply line 9 to the second charger (charger Q) at a time outside the period of validity of the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle C). . The validity period extends from time T21 to time T22. After that, the time passes and is in the period of validity of the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle C). In the present state, when the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle C) is greater than the priority assigned to the second vehicle (vehicle B), the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to switch the transmission line. supply of electrical energy 9 to the first charger (charger P).

It is noted that, as is not explicitly described in this example, during the period of validity of the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle C) from time T22 to time T23, when the priority assigned to the second vehicle (vehicle B) is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle (vehicle C), the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to maintain the connection destination of the electric power supply line 9 towards the second charger (charger Q).

Example 4 Vehicle Priority D (with Period of Validity), Vehicle Connected After Vehicle Connection B In the following, an operation of the power supply system according to Example 4 will be described. In the present example 4, the power supply storage unit 54 stores power supply condition information shown in FIG. 3. It is assumed that a vehicle D is connected to the charger P for a period other than than a period from morning to evening on a holiday. In addition, it is assumed that the vehicle B is connected to the charger Q during the night every weekday. As shown in FIG. 3, the priority of the vehicle D is 3, and the priority of the vehicle B is 1. Therefore, the priority of the vehicle D is greater than the priority of the vehicle B. A period of validity is not specified for the priority of the vehicle B, and a validity period is specified for the priority of the vehicle D. Especially, the validity period is specified with a start time during the night immediately before a holiday, such as 19:00, at a time from beginning to night immediately before a weekday. For example, such a period of validity is specified for a vehicle primarily used on a holiday, as exemplified by vehicle D. It is sufficient if the load of vehicle D, which is mainly used during a holiday, is completed during the morning of a holiday. When the charge of the vehicle D is completed well before the morning of a holiday, the battery 7 of the vehicle D is maintained in a complete state of charge for a prolonged period before its use as such. When the battery 7 of the vehicle D is well charged and maintained continuously in such a state for an extended period, the life of the battery 7 of the vehicle D can be reduced. Therefore, it is undesirable to complete the charging of the battery 7 of the vehicle D a few days before a holiday. Rather, it is desirable to complete the charge of the battery 7 of the vehicle D during a period that begins the night immediately before a holiday and ends the morning of the holiday. It is desirable to complete the charging of the battery 7 of the vehicle D during the period which begins the night immediately before the holiday and ends the morning of the holiday. However, it is not practical for a user to have to wait for the night immediately before the holiday to connect the vehicle D to a charger. Namely, it is more convenient for the user to connect the vehicle D to the loader immediately after the parking of the vehicle D, even several days before the holiday. Fig. 13 is a graph showing a charge in a charge amount of battery 7 of each of vehicles B and D as time progresses in the present case. In FIG. 13, a line 47 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle B, and a line 48 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle D. The continuous line portions of each of the lines 47 and 48 represent a state in which the corresponding vehicle is connected to the charger. The dashed line portions of each of lines 47 and 48 represent a state in which the corresponding vehicle is disconnected from the charger and consumes electricity from battery 7 as it moves. In the following part, an operation in example 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 13. First, the vehicle D is connected to the charger P for days of the week with the exception of the night one day before a holiday. The priority of the vehicle D currently stored in the power condition storage unit 54 is specified in a period ranging from a start time during the night immediately before a holiday, such as 19:00, to a time of beginning at night immediately before a weekday. Thus, during this period, the charger entity of the charger P is in the invalid box data 30 and is not moved in the queue data 20. Thus, the electrical power supply line 9 n is not connected to charger P, and vehicle D is not loaded. On the other hand, the load amount of vehicle B decreases when it is used on a weekday, except for the night of a day before a holiday. At time T51 when the vehicle B is connected to the charger Q, the control unit 55 generates the charger entity of the charger Q in steps 210 to 240 of FIG. 6. The priority of the charger entity is the priority of the vehicle B. Therefore, the priority value of the loader entity is 1, and the validity period is not specified.

In this case, the charger entity of the charger Q is stored at the top in the order of the queue data 20. Via the operation of steps 120 and 130 of FIG. The control circuit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 to connect the power supply line 9 to the charger Q. As a result, the load of the vehicle B is started. The charge is terminated at time T52 when the vehicle B is disconnected from the charger Q or when the battery 7 of the vehicle B is fully charged. At time T53, it is assumed to be the night of a day before a holiday when the vehicle B is connected to the charger Q and charged from the power supply line 9 via the charger Q. In step 245 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that it is the period of validity of the loader entity of the loader P in the invalid case data 30. Then the processing proceeds to step 250. The control unit 55 obtains information from the clock and calendar unit 53 and determines whether the current day and the following day are a holiday or a weekday according to the information obtained. In step 250, the control unit 55 moves the charger loader entity P from the invalid slot data 30 to the queue data 20. The priority 3 of the charger entity of the charger P is greater than at priority 1 of the charger entity of the charger Q. Thus, the control unit 55 stores the loader entity of the loader P first in the queue data 20. Thus, the order of the Q charger feeder entity is downgraded to second place in order. In step 120 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines that the feeder identity at the beginning of the queue is changed from the charger identity of the charger Q to the charger loader identity. P. Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger P. In this way, the charged object is changed from the vehicle B to the vehicle D. Thus, the load of the vehicle D is started, and the load of the vehicle B is completed.

After that, the load of the vehicle D is continued. At time T54, when the vehicle D is disconnected from the loader P during the morning of the holiday, in step 260 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that the loader P is disconnected from the vehicle on the basis of a signal sent from the charger P. The present signal sent from the charger P specifies that the connection is released. Then, in step 270, the control unit 55 clears the charger unit of the charger P from the queue data 20. Thus, the order of the charger entity of the charger Q is reassembled to the head in the order of the queue data 20. In step 120 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the obtained charger identity, and in step 130, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger Q. In this way, the charged object is changed to become the vehicle B. Thus, the load of vehicle B is restarted.

After that, it is assumed that, at time T55, the vehicle D returns to the parking lot during the evening of the holiday, and the vehicle D is connected to the charger P. In this case, in step 210 of FIG. , the control unit 55 determines that the vehicle D is newly connected to the charger P. Then, in step 220, the control unit 55 obtains the vehicle identity of the newly connected vehicle D. Next, at the step 230, the control unit 55 reads the priority of the vehicle D from the power supply storage unit 54, and in step 240 the control unit 55 generates the loader loader P. The validity period is specified for the currently generated loader entity. In addition, it is currently in the validity period.

Therefore, the currently generated loader entity is stored in the queue data 20. In addition, the priority of the loader entity currently generated from the loader P is greater than the priority of the loader loader entity. Q. So the loader loader entity P is stored at the top of the queue data 20. Thus, the loader entity of the loader Q is demoted to the second place in the order. Thus, in step 120 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the obtained charger identity. Then, in step 130, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger P. In this way, the charged object is changed to become the vehicle D. Thus, the load of the vehicle D is started, and the load of the vehicle B is completed. After that, at time T56 on the morning of the second holiday, it is assumed that both vehicles B and D are disconnected from the corresponding chargers. In this case, in step 260 of FIG. 6, the control unit 55 determines that connections between the chargers P, Q and the vehicles are released on the basis of signals sent from the chargers P, Q. signals sent from P, Q loaders specify that connections are released. Then, in step 270, the control unit 55 clears the loader entities of the P, Q loaders from the queue data 20. Therefore, the queue data 20 is empty. Thus, in step 120 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the obtained charger identity. Then, in step 130, the power supply line 9 is connected to the unloaded connection object corresponding to the null data. Thus, the load of vehicles B and D is completed. After that, at the time T57 during the second holiday, it is assumed that the vehicle B returns first to the parking lot, and the vehicle B is connected to the charger Q. In this case, in steps 210 to 240 of the figure 6, the control unit 55 generates the charger entity of the charger Q. The priority of the charger entity is the priority of the vehicle B, and the validity period is not specified. In this case, the queue data 20 at this time is empty. Therefore, the charger entity of the charger Q is stored at the top in the order of the queue data 20. Via the operation of steps 120 and 130 of FIG. 55 controls the switching circuit 2 to connect the electric power supply line 9 to the charger Q. As a result, the load of the vehicle B is started. After that, at time T58 of the night during the second holiday, it is assumed that the vehicle D returns to the parking lot, and the vehicle D is connected to the loader P. In this case, at steps 210 to 240 of the figure 6, the control unit 55 generates the charger entity of the charger P. The priority of the charger entity is the priority of the vehicle D, and the validity period is specified. In this example, the second holiday is the day before a weekday. Therefore, the time T58 during the night of the second holiday is outside the validity period. Thus, the charger entity of the charger P is stored in the invalid slot data 30, and the vehicle load B is continued. As described above, the validity period of the priority can be specified for the priority of the vehicle D, which can be stored in the power supply storage unit 54. When the vehicle D is connected to the charger P and at a time outside the period of validity of the priority of the vehicle D, which is from the time T51 to the time T53, the control unit 55 prevents the establishment of the connection of the power supply line 9 to be charged to the charger P, regardless of the existence of a vehicle connected to a charger other than the charger P. Even when only one vehicle is connected to a charger, it is not necessarily preferred that the vehicle be loaded immediately. For example, as described above, it is convenient for a user to connect a vehicle, which is primarily used on a holiday, to a charger immediately after the vehicle is parked. In addition, the load can be performed at low cost when the vehicle is loaded during the day before a holiday. In consideration of this, as described above, the validity period can be set to the priority assigned to the vehicle D. Thus, regardless of whether another vehicle is connected to a charger other than a charger connected to the vehicle D , this charger can be prevented from being placed at the connection destination of the electric power supply line at a time outside the period of validity of the priority. Assigning a vehicle to a loader does not affect the operation described above. Namely, the order of a vehicle to be loaded is determined by the priority assigned to a vehicle. The order of vehicles to be loaded is not determined by the charger that is connected to each vehicle. Further, in the examples, the control unit 55 causes the display unit 52 to indicate the vehicle's vehicle identity and information about the amount of charge of the vehicle battery 7 upon reception. information concerning the vehicle identity and the amount of charge from the vehicle communication unit 8 of each vehicle, which is connected to a charger, via the power supply communication unit 3.

Thus, a user can get the amount of charge of the battery 7 even when it is in the house 4. In this case, in addition to the amount of charge or instead of the amount of charge, the control unit 55 may cause the display unit 52 to indicate a predicted travel distance corresponding to the amount of load. The expected travel distance, corresponding to a certain amount of charge, is a predicted value of a total distance, according to which the vehicle with the certain amount of charge of the battery 2 can move before the charge amount of the battery 7 becomes zero, without additional charge of the battery 7. The intended distance of travel is, for example, a value obtained by dividing the amount of charge by a consumption rate of electricity. The rate of electricity consumption is an electrical energy of the battery 2 that the vehicle consumes as it travels a unit traveling distance. The power consumption rate may be a fixed value or may be entered by a user using the operation unit 51 in each vehicle.

Second Embodiment Now, the second embodiment will be described. In particular, the difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be described in detail. Particularly, in the present second embodiment, a priority is not assigned to each vehicle but is assigned to each loader. Thus, the load priority is determined according to the priorities of the loaders. The structure of the power supply system of the present embodiment is substantially equivalent to that of the first embodiment.

In contrast to the first embodiment, the priority of the power supply condition information stored in the power supply storage unit 54 of the power control device 5 is not associated with each vehicle identity. but is associated with the charger identity of each charger. A validity period may be arbitrarily specified for a priority, similarly to the first embodiment. Fig. 14 shows an example of power supply condition information stored in the power supply storage unit 54 according to the present second embodiment. In the present example of the power supply condition information, priority information is assigned to each of four P, Q, R, S chargers of multiple chargers 1 of the power supply system. Specifically, priorities of 2, 1, 3, 3 are respectively assigned to the charger IDs of the chargers P, Q, R, S. A validity period is not specified for the priority of each of the chargers P and Q. In In the present example, the priority of each of the chargers P and Q is regularly valid. Instead, a validity period is specified for the priority of each of the R and S loaders. In this example, the priority of each of the R and S loaders is valid only within the specified validity period. The control unit 55 is configured to execute the program 100 shown in Fig. 5, similarly to the first embodiment. Further, the control unit 55 is configured to execute a program 600 shown in Fig. 15, instead of the program 200 shown in Fig. 6. The control unit 55 is configured to repeatedly execute the programs 100 and 600 in parallel. The elements specified by the same reference numbers in FIGS. 6, 15 have equivalent functions. In the following part, an operation of the control unit 55 according to the present embodiment, performed by executing the program 100 and the program 600 will be described in detail as an example. Similarly to the first embodiment, when the power supply system is started, the power supply line 9 is connected to an unloaded connection object.

Example 5 Charger Priority P, Loader P Connected After Charger Connection Q In the present example 5, power supply condition information shown in Fig. 14 is stored in the power supply storage unit 54. A rechargeable vehicle B 10 is first connected to the charger Q. After that, the vehicle A is connected to the charger P, while the vehicle B is connected to the charger Q. So, in this example, the charger Q is equivalent to a first charger, and the charger P is equivalent to a second charger.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure for loading each of vehicles A and B in this case. Fig. 17 is a graph showing a change in a charge amount of battery 7 of each of vehicles A and B as time progresses. In FIG. 17, a line 61 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle A, and a line 62 represents a charge quantity of the battery 7 of the vehicle B. In the following part, an operation of the example 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 15, 16, 17. First, when a vehicle is not connected to any of the chargers of the power supply system, the number of charger entities stored in the data Queue 20 and invalid case data 30 is zero. As described above, when the vehicle B approaches the charger Q and stops at the charger Q, a wireless connection is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle B and the power supply communication unit. Electric 3.

Then, at step 705 of FIG. 16, at a time T70 (FIG. 17), a user connects the vehicle B to the charger Q. Thus, the charger Q detects that a plug of a power line is inserted into a opening socket of the automotive device and notifies the power supply control device 5 of the detection of the insertion of the plug of the power line. In response to the notification, in step 210 of FIG. 15, the control unit 55 determines that a newly connected vehicle to the charger Q exists. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step 620. In step 620, the control unit 55 obtains a charger identity of the charger Q, which is newly connected to the vehicle, from the storage condition unit of the power supply 54.

Next, in step 630 (step 715 of Fig. 16), the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is assigned to the obtained charger identity, from power condition information. The priority currently read is 1, and a period of validity is not specified.

Then, in step 240, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader Q according to the information read about the priority. Thus, the control unit 55 stores the generated charger entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. Namely, the charger entity of the charger Q is comprised of data which includes a Charger Loader Identity Q and Loader Priority Q. Specifically, in the loader entity generated from Loader Q, the priority is 1, and a validity period is not specified. Therefore, the loader entity of the loader Q is stored in the queue data 20. At this point, the number of the loader entities is zero in the queue data 20. Therefore, at step 720 of Fig. 16, the control unit 55 stores the loader loader entity Q at the head in the order of the queue queue data 20. At step 110 of the figure 5, the control unit 55 reads the loader ID of the top loader Q in the queue data 20. Next, in step 120, the control unit 55 determines that the loader identity at the beginning of the queue is changed from zero to the charger ID of the charger Q, and in step 130 the control unit 55 performs the switch command. In particular, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger Q, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. in this way, in step 725 of Fig. 16, the loaded object is changed to vehicle B. Thus, charging of vehicle B via charger Q is started.

After that, no vehicle except the vehicle B is connected to the T70 time charger until the time T71 in FIG. 17, and thus there is no change in the queue. Thus, as represented by the line 62 in FIG. 17, the load of the vehicle B continues to increase the quantity of charge of the battery 7 of the vehicle B. It is assumed here that the vehicle A approaches the charger P and stopping at the charger P. As described above, when the vehicle A approaches the charger P and stops at the charger P, a wireless connection is established between the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle A and the unit 3. Then, in step 730 of FIG. 16, at a time T71 (FIG. 17), a user connects the vehicle A to the charger P. In step 210 of FIG. control unit 55 determines that a vehicle, which is newly connected to the charger P, exists on the basis of a signal from the charger P. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 620. In step 620, the control unit 55 obtains the charging identity of the charger P. Then, in step 630 (step 74 0 of Fig. 16), the control unit 55 reads information about a priority, which is attributed to the charger identity obtained from the charger P, from power supply condition information relating to the storage unit. storage of power supply conditions 54. The priority currently read is 2, and a validity period is not specified. Then, in step 240, the control unit 55 generates a charger entity of the newly connected loader P according to the information read about the priority. Thus, the controller 55 stores the generated charger entity in the queue data 20 or the invalid box data 30. Namely, the charger entity of the charger P consists of data that includes the Charger Charger ID P and Charger Priority P. In this example, the priority of Charger Loader entity P is 2, and a validity period is not specified. Therefore, the charger entity of the charger P is stored in the queue data 20. In addition, at this time, the queue data 20 includes the charger entity of the charger Q with priority 1 Thus, in step 745 of Fig. 16, the control unit 55 stores the loader loader entity P overhead in the queue data 20. Thus, the order of the payload entity charger charger Q is demoted to second place in order. In step 110 of FIG. 5, the control unit 55 reads the charger ID of the P charger at the beginning in the queue data 20. Then, in step 120, the control unit 55 determines that the feeder identity at the beginning of the queue is changed from the charger identity of the charger Q to the charger identity of the charger P, and in step 130 the control unit 55 performs the switching command. Particularly, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger P, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. In this way, in step 747 of FIG. 16, the loaded object is changed from the vehicle B to the vehicle A. Thus, the load of the vehicle A via the magazine P is started.

After that, the load of vehicle A continues. At time T72 in Fig. 17, the charge amount of battery 7 of vehicle A increases to Amax, and battery 7 is fully charged. Thus, in step 140 of FIG. 5 (step 750 of FIG. 16), the control unit 55 determines that the battery 7 is fully charged. Then, in step 150 (step 755 of Fig. 16), the control unit 55 clears the overhead feeder entity in the queue data from the queue data 20. In this way, the charger entity of the charger P is erased. Therefore, the charger entity of the charger Q becomes a charger entity at the head in the order of the queue data 20. In the next step 110, the control unit 55 obtains the identity of the charger of the charger Q as charger ID of the overhead charger entity in the queue data 20. Next, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change of the charger identity obtained in step 120, and in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. In particular, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to the charger Q, which corresponds to the charger identity obtained in the immediately preceding step 110. in this way, in step 760 of Fig. 16, the loaded object is again changed to become the vehicle B. Thus, the load of the vehicle B is started.

The queue data 20 does not change unless another vehicle is connected to the charger 1. As shown by line 62 in Fig. 17, the load of the vehicle B continues, and the amount of charge of the battery 7 increases. Finally, at step 765, at time T73, the charge amount of the battery 7 of the vehicle B increases to Bmax, and the battery 7 is fully charged. Thus, in step 140, the control unit 55 determines that the battery 7 of the vehicle B is fully charged. Thus, in step 150, the control unit 55 clears the charger entity of the top loader Q in the queue data 20. In the next step 110, the control unit 55 obtains null data as charger ID of the overhead feeder entity in the queue data 20. Next, the control unit 55 determines that there is a change in the loader identity obtained in step 120, and in step 130, the control unit 55 performs the switching control. Particularly, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected to an unloaded connection object corresponding to the null data. In the present example, the priority of the second charger (charger P) has been previously set to be greater than the priority of the first charger (charger Q) in the power supply storage unit 54. In addition, it is assuming that the power supply line 9 is connected to the first charger (charger Q), to which the vehicle B is connected, and the second charger (charger P) is connected to another vehicle A. In this case, the control unit 55 switches the power supply destination (destination loaded) of the switching circuit 2 to the second charger (charger P). More particularly, it is assumed that the vehicles are simultaneously connected to each of the chargers P and Q. In this case, the control unit 55 controls the switching circuit 2 so that the power supply line 9 is connected. to the charger P, to which the highest priority is assigned in the power supply storage unit 54. There is a tendency to determine a priority of each of multiple chargers. In particular, there is a requirement for the use of a certain charger among multiple chargers to charge a battery with the highest priority and the use of another charger among multiple chargers to charge another battery with priority lower. In order to satisfy such a requirement, as described above, priorities are set for the multiple loaders respectively. In addition, the control unit 55 controls the connection destination, i.e., the power supply destination of the electric power supply line 9 in order according to the priority. In this way, such a requirement for determining the load priority of each of the chargers is satisfied. Thus, the use of a vehicle by a user can be improved. In the example, at step 745, when a priority assigned to the charger Q is higher than the priority of the charger P in the power supply storage unit 54, the charger P is stored at the second In this case, charging of the vehicle B via the charger Q is continued until the battery 7 of the vehicle B is fully charged.

It is assumed that the vehicle B is connected to the charger R or S, at a time outside the period of validity of the priority assigned to the charger R or S, to which the vehicle B is connected, in the storage unit of conditions In this case, regardless of whether another vehicle is connected to a charger other than the chargers R and S, the control unit 55 prevents the connection destination of the power supply line. electrical 9 to be directed to the charger R or S, to which the vehicle B is connected. More particularly, it is assumed that the vehicle B is connected to the first charger (charger R or S), and another vehicle A is connected to the second charger (charger P). In addition, in the power condition storage unit 54, a validity period is specified for a priority assigned to the first loader (loader R or S), and a validity period is not specified for a priority. assigned to the second charger (charger P). In this case, at a time outside the period of validity of the priority assigned to the first charger (charger R or S), the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to connect the power supply line. electrical energy 9 to the second charger (charger P). After that, the moment is assumed to be within the validity period of the priority assigned to the first loader (R or S loader). In this case, when the priority assigned to the first charger (charger R or S) is greater than the priority assigned to the second charger (charger P), the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to switch the destination of connection of the power supply line 9 to the first charger (charger R or S). Alternatively, when the priority assigned to the second charger (charger P) is greater than the priority assigned to the first charger (charger R or S), the control unit 55 causes the switching circuit 2 to maintain the connection destination. from the power supply line 9 to the second charger (charger P). The present inventor has noted that even when only one vehicle is connected to a charger, a user does not necessarily require charging the vehicle immediately. For example, as described above, a vehicle used for the daily round trip from home to work and a vehicle used primarily on a holiday may coincide with this assumption. In order to satisfy such a requirement, as described above, a validity period may be specified for a priority assigned to the R or S loader. In this case, at a time outside the period of validity of the priority, the The control unit 55 can prevent a destination of connection of the power supply line from being directed to the charger R or S, regardless of whether another vehicle is connected to another charger. Therefore, it is sufficient for a user to connect a vehicle to the R or S charger to charge the vehicle only during the validity period. An assignment of a vehicle to a loader does not affect the operation described above. Namely, the order of a vehicle to be at a connection destination of the electric power supply line 9 is determined solely by the priority assigned to each vehicle. The order of a vehicle intended to be a connection destination of the electric power supply line 9 is not determined by the charger that is connected to each vehicle. In addition, in the example, the control unit 55 causes the display unit 52 to indicate the vehicle's vehicle identity and information about the amount of charge of the battery 7 of the vehicle at the time of transmission. receiving information about the vehicle identity and the amount of charge from the vehicle communication unit 8 of each vehicle, which is connected to a charger, through the power communication unit Electric 3.

Thus, a user can get the amount of charge of the battery 7 even when it is in the house 4. In this case, in addition to the amount of charge or instead of the amount of charge, the control unit 55 may cause the display unit 52 to indicate a predicted travel distance corresponding to the amount of load.

In the present embodiment, it is not necessary for the rechargeable vehicle 6 to comprise the vehicle communication unit 8. Alternatively, even when the refillable vehicle 6 comprises the vehicle communication unit 8, it does not It is not necessary for the vehicle communication unit 8 to transmit a vehicle identity, as the control unit 55 does not use the vehicle identity to determine the loader which must be a connection destination of the vehicle line. In this case, it is not necessary for the control unit 55 to indicate the vehicle identity and the quantity of charge on the display unit 52.

Alternative Embodiment As described above, although embodiments have been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. The scope of the present invention comprises various forms, which can produce a function of each subject of the present invention. For example, in the first embodiment, when loader entities with the same priority are stored in the queue data 20, a higher priority is assigned to the loader entity stored in the queue data. waiting before the other loader entity, i.e., it is stored at a higher order in the order of the queue data 20. The order of the loader entity may not be determined from this way. For example, when the loader entities with the same priority are stored in the queue data 20, the control unit 55 can change the order of the loader entities to the round in the queue data. 20 at a regular interval. Specifically, for example, it is assumed that only two loader entities that include a loader loader entity P and a charger loader entity Q are stored in the queue data 20. In this case, a first state is set so that the loader entity of the loader Q is in the second place in order, and the loader entity of the loader P is leading in order. In addition, a second state is alternatively set so that the loader loader entity P is in the second place in the order, and the loader loader entity Q is ahead in order. Thus, the first state and the second state are alternately set at a predetermined interval.

In this way, when vehicles to which the same priority is assigned in the power condition storage unit 54 are simultaneously connected to chargers, a rate of increase of a charge amount of the battery 7 of each vehicles becomes substantially uniform. Further, in the second embodiment, the control unit 55 of the power supply control device 5 prioritizes a loader and controls the switching circuit 2 according to the priority. The structure and method are not limited thereto as described above. For example, the operation of the second embodiment can be performed when the switching circuit 2 includes a circuit structure configured to set the charger Q to be a connection destination of the electrical power supply line 9 with priority higher than that of the charger P. In this case, a priority is assigned to each charger according to a circuit structure of the switching circuit 2. In addition, in this case, the power supply control device 5 may be omitted. Namely, only the switching circuit 2 can serve as a power supply system. In the above embodiments, a charger detects a connection to a vehicle, and thereby sends a signal, which specifies a connection existence, to the power supply control device 5. In this way, the controller Power supply 5 can detect a connection between a vehicle and a charger. It is noted that the power control device 5 is not limited to detecting a connection between a vehicle and a charger in this way.

For example, the vehicle communication unit 8 can be manually connected to a charger via a telecommunication cable when the corresponding vehicle is loaded. In this case, when a vehicle is connected to a certain charger via an electric power supply line and a telecommunication cable, the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle transmits an identity of vehicle to a charger via the telecommunication cable. Thus, the charger sends the received vehicle identity to the power control device 5. Thus, upon receipt of the vehicle identity, the control unit 55 of the power control device 5 can detecting that the vehicle, which transmitted the vehicle identity to the charger, is connected to the charger, which sent the vehicle identity to the power control device 5. For example, the vehicle communication unit 8 to perform power line communication (PLC) via the power line between a charger and battery 7 when connected to the charger. In this case, when a vehicle is connected to a certain charger via an electrical power supply line, the vehicle communication unit 8 of the vehicle transmits a vehicle identity to a charger by the vehicle. intermediate of the power supply line. Thus, the charger sends the received vehicle identity to the power control device 5. Thus, upon receipt of the vehicle identity, the control unit 55 of the power control device 5 can detecting that the vehicle, which transmitted the vehicle identity to the charger, is connected to the charger, which sent the vehicle identity to the power control device 5. In addition, when the battery 7 of the vehicle is connected to the loader and fully loaded, the control unit 55 clears the charger loader entity from the queue data 20 or invalid slot data 30.

After that, the control unit 55 can successively obtain information regarding the amount of charge of the battery 7 from the vehicle connected to the charger corresponding to the removed charger entity. When the power of the battery 7 is consumed to be in an incomplete state of charge, the control unit 55 can again store the loader charger entity in the queue data 20 or the data of the charger. Invalid box 30. In this case, a content of the charger entity to be stored is the same as a content of the downloaded charger entity. In this way, when the battery 7 consumes power due to the electrical self-discharge after being fully charged and reducing the amount of charge, the battery 7 can be automatically recharged.

In the first embodiment, the priority of each of the vehicles is constant. Alternatively, it is noted that the priority of each of the vehicles can be changed in the power supply storage unit 54 as time progresses. In this case, the control unit 55 can periodically confirm a priority assigned to each of the vehicles connected to a loader.

Upon detecting a change in priority, the control unit 55 may change a storage destination of a loader entity and the order of a loader entity in the queue data 20. In the second embodiment, the priority of each of the chargers is constant. Alternatively, it is noted that the priority of each of the chargers can be changed in the power supply storage unit 54 as time progresses. In this case, the control unit 55 can periodically confirm a priority assigned to each of the chargers connected to a vehicle. Upon detecting a change in priority, the control unit 55 may change a storage destination of a loader entity and the order of a loader entity in the queue data 20. In the embodiment, each function performed by the execution of a program by the control unit 55 can be performed by other hardware, such as an FPGA, which can program a circuit structure having the function. For example, it is assumed that the charger 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a generally known charger device configured to charge by applying a 100V or 200V AC voltage currently supplied to an ordinary fireplace.

Therefore, it is assumed that the electric power supply line 9 is supplied with 100V AC or 200V AC power. The structure and operation described above can be applied to a fast charger device configured to charge by rectifying and augmenting an AC power supply to produce direct high voltage power. In this case, a main function of the charger 1 shown in Fig. 1 is a connection with a vehicle, and the electric power supply line 9 can be used to provide a high voltage direct current. Summarizing the above embodiments, a power control device for controlling a switching circuit for connecting an electrical power supply line to a switchable charger selected from multiple chargers connectable with a vehicle comprises: a storage unit configured to associate priority information with each of at least a portion of multiple vehicles and configured to store related information therein; and a control unit configured to control the switching circuit, when at least a portion (for example, at least two) of the multiple vehicles are simultaneously connected to different chargers, in order to connect an electrical power supply line in such a way that preferential to a charger among the different chargers, this charger among the different chargers being connected to a vehicle among multiple vehicles, a highest priority in the storage unit at this time being assigned to this vehicle among the multiple vehicles. The inventor of the present application has noted the tendency of a user to demand to determine a load priority for each vehicle among multiple vehicles. Particularly, a user may have a tendency to require charging a vehicle with a higher priority and may have a tendency to require delaying the load of another vehicle. In order to satisfy such a requirement, as described above, a storage unit is configured to assign priority information to each vehicle among multiple vehicles and configured to store associated information therein. In addition, the control unit is configured to control a connection destination, i.e., a power supply destination of the electrical power supply line in a priority order. In this way, such a requirement for determining a load priority of each vehicle among multiple vehicles is satisfied. Thus, the use of a vehicle by a user can be improved. In a condition wherein: i) a first one of the plurality of vehicles is connected to a first one of the plurality of chargers; ii) the switching circuit connects the power supply line to the first charger; and iii) a second one of the plurality of vehicles is newly connected to a second one of the plurality of chargers, the control unit is configured to: i) cause the switching circuit to maintain a connection destination of the line supplying power to the first charger when a priority assigned to the first vehicle in the storage unit is greater than a priority assigned to the second vehicle in the storage unit; and ii) causing the switching circuit to switch the connected destination of the power supply line to the second charger when the priority assigned to the second vehicle is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle. Namely, it is assumed that the first vehicle is connected to the first charger and is charged. In such a condition, the second vehicle is connected to the second charger. In this case, when the first vehicle has a higher priority, the load of the first vehicle is continued. Alternatively, when the second vehicle has a higher priority, the loading destination is changed to become the second vehicle, and thus the second vehicle is loaded.

The storage unit is configured to store the priority for which a validity period of the priority is specified. In a condition in which: i) a vehicle among the multiple vehicles is connected to a charger among the multiple chargers; and ii) at a time which is outside a period of validity of a priority, which is assigned to that vehicle among the multiple vehicles and which is stored in the storage unit, the control unit is configured to preventing the connection destination of the electrical power supply line from being directed towards this charger among the multiple chargers, regardless of whether a vehicle is connected to a charger other than this charger.

The present inventor has noted that even when only one vehicle is connected to a charger, a user does not necessarily require charging the vehicle immediately. Particularly, for example, it is sufficient that a vehicle used primarily for the daily round trip from home to work is sufficiently loaded before the vehicle starts the daily round trip from home to work the next day. It may therefore be required that such a vehicle used primarily for the daily round-trip journey from home to work be loaded in a period of low electricity tariff such as off-peak night hours and be prevented from being charged for a period of time. period other than the period of low electricity rate. Even considering such a circumstance, it is convenient for a user to be able to connect the vehicle to the charger immediately after the user's return from work, rather than waiting for the start of the off-peak hours and connecting the vehicle to the charger after the beginning of the off-peak hours. In consideration of this, as described above, a validity period may be specified for a priority assigned to a vehicle. Thus, regardless of whether another vehicle is connected to a charger other than a charger connected to the vehicle, this charger can be prevented from being positioned at a connection destination of the electric power supply line at a time outside the period of validity of the priority.

In a condition wherein: i) a first one of the plurality of vehicles is connected to a first one of the plurality of chargers; ii) a second one of the multiple vehicles is connected to a second one of the multiple chargers; iii) a validity period is specified for a priority assigned to the first vehicle and stored in the storage unit; and iv) a validity period is not specified for a priority assigned to the second vehicle and stored in the storage unit, the control unit may be configured to cause the switching circuit to connect the line of supplying electric power to the second charger at a time outside the period of validity of the priority assigned to the first vehicle. After that, in a condition in which it is a moment in the period of validity of the priority assigned to the first vehicle, i) the control unit may be configured to cause the switching circuit to switch the destination of connecting the power supply line to the first charger when the priority assigned to the first vehicle is greater than the priority assigned to the second vehicle; and ii) the control unit may be configured to cause the switching circuit to maintain the connected destination of the power supply line to the second charger when the priority assigned to the second vehicle is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle. A power supply system is configured to connect an electrical power supply line to a switchable charger selected from multiple chargers connectable with vehicles, in a condition in which: i) a switching circuit is provided; connects the power supply line to a first charger among the plurality of chargers, the first charger being connected to a vehicle, the power supply system is configured to cause the switching circuit to switch a power supply destination. to the second charger when another vehicle is connected to a second one of the plurality of chargers, a priority higher than a priority of the first charger being previously assigned to the second charger.

The present inventor has noted that there is a tendency to determine a priority of each charger among multiple chargers. In particular, there is a requirement for the use of a certain charger among multiple chargers to charge a battery with the highest priority and the use of another charger among multiple chargers to charge another battery with priority lower. In order to satisfy such a requirement, as described above, priorities can be set for the multiple loaders respectively. In addition, the control unit controls the connection destination, namely, the power supply destination of the power supply line in the order of priority. In this way, such a requirement concerning the determination of the charging priority of each charger among the chargers is satisfied. Thus, the use of a vehicle by a user can be improved. More particularly, the power supply system may comprise: the switching circuit configured to connect the power supply line to a switchable charger selected from multiple chargers; a storage unit configured to associate priority information to each of the multiple loaders and configured to store associated information therein; and a control unit configured to cause the switching circuit, when at least a portion (e.g., at least two) of the multiple chargers are simultaneously connected to corresponding vehicles, to connect the power supply line with electrical power. to a charger among the multiple chargers, a highest priority in the storage unit at this time being assigned to this charger among multiple chargers. The above structures of the embodiments may be associated where appropriate. The above processes such as calculations and determinations are not limited to their execution by the control unit 55. The control unit may comprise various structures including the control unit 55 shown as an example. The above processes such as calculations and determinations may be performed by any or any combination of software, electrical circuitry, mechanical device, and the like. The software may be stored in a storage medium, and may be transmitted through a transmission device such as a network device. The electrical circuit may be an integrated circuit, and may be a separate circuit such as hardware logic configured with electrical or electronic elements or the like. Elements producing the above treatments may be separate elements and may be partially or fully integrated. It should be noted that although the methods of the embodiments of the present invention have been described herein as comprising a specific sequence of steps, alternative embodiments of embodiments including various other sequences of these steps and / or Additional steps not described herein are intended to be within the steps of the present invention. Various modifications and permutations may be made variously to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims (7)

REVENDICATIONS1. Power supply control device for controlling a switching circuit (2) suitable for connecting an electric power supply line (9) to a charger selected from a plurality of chargers (1), the plurality of chargers (1) being connectable with a plurality of vehicles (6), the power control device comprising: a storage unit (54) configured to assign priority information to each vehicle of at least a portion of the plurality of vehicles ( 6), said storage unit (54) being configured to store the assigned information; and a control unit (55) configured to control the switching circuit (2), when at least a part of the plurality of vehicles (6) is simultaneously connected to different chargers (1), in order to connect the line of electric power supply (9) preferably to a charger among the different chargers (1), this charger among the different chargers (1) being connected to one of the plurality of vehicles (6), to which a highest priority has been awarded. The power control device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of chargers (1) comprises a first charger (1) and a second charger (1), wherein the plurality of vehicles (6) comprises a first vehicle (6) and a second vehicle (6), wherein the controller is in a condition in which the switching circuit (2) connects the power supply line (9) to the first charger (1). ), which is connected to the first vehicle (6), and the second vehicle (6) is newly connected to the second charger (1), the control unit (55) being configured to: make the switching circuit ( 2) maintains the power supply line (9) connected to the first charger (1) when the priority assigned to the first vehicle (6) is greater than the priority assigned to the second vehicle (6); and causing the switching circuit (2) to switch the power supply line (9) to be connected to the second charger (1) when the priority assigned to the second vehicle (6) is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle (6). The power supply control device according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit (54) is configured to store a priority with which a validity period is associated, and wherein the controller is in a condition wherein one of the plurality of vehicles (6) is connected to one of the plurality of chargers (1), and the instant is outside a validity period associated with a priority of that vehicle (6), the control unit (55) being configured to prevent the power supply line (9) from being connected to this charger (1), regardless of whether another vehicle is connected to a charger other than this charger. The power control device according to claims 1 or 3, wherein the plurality of chargers (1) comprises a first charger (1) and a second charger (1), wherein the plurality of vehicles (6) comprises a first vehicle (6) and a second vehicle (6), wherein the control device is in a first condition in which the first vehicle (6) is connected to the first charger (1), the second vehicle (6) is connected at the second loader (1), a validity period is associated with a priority assigned to the first vehicle (6), and a validity period is not associated with a priority assigned to the second vehicle (6), the control unit (55) being configured to cause the switching circuit (2) to connect the power supply line (9) to the second charger (1) at a time outside the validity period of the priority assigned to the first vehicle (6), and after the first condition, in a second condition in which the time is within the validity period of the priority assigned to the first vehicle (6), the control unit (55) being configured to: make the switching circuit (2) switches the power supply line (9) to be connected to the first charger (1) when the priority assigned to the first vehicle (6) is greater than the priority assigned to the second vehicle (6); and causing the switching circuit (2) to maintain the power supply line (9) connected to the second charger (1) when the priority assigned to the second vehicle (6) is greater than the priority assigned to the first vehicle (6). A power supply system configured to connect an electrical power supply line (9) to a charger selected from a plurality of chargers (1) comprising a first charger (1) and a second charger (1) connectable with vehicles (6), wherein said power system comprises: - a switching circuit (2) configured to connect the power supply line (9) to a charger selected from the plurality of chargers (1); - a storage unit (54) configured to assign priority information to each loader of at least a portion of the plurality of loaders (1); the storage unit (54) being configured to store the assigned information; and a control unit (55) configured to cause the switching circuit (2), when at least a part of the plurality of chargers (1) is simultaneously connected to vehicles (6), to connect the line power supply (9) to a charger among the plurality of chargers (1), a highest priority being assigned to this charger (1). wherein the power supply system is configured to switch the switching circuit (2) into a condition in which the power supply system causes a switching circuit (2) to connect the power supply line. electric (9) to the first charger (1) connected to a vehicle, the switching circuit (2) being adapted to switch the power supply line (9) to be connected to the second charger (1) when another vehicle is connected to the second charger (1), a priority higher than a priority of the first charger (1) having previously been allocated to the second charger (1). A method for controlling a power supply of a vehicle from a first vehicle (6) and a second vehicle (6) from a charger from a first charger (1) and a second charger (1), the method comprising the following steps: causing a switching circuit (2) to connect the power supply line (9) to the first charger (1) connected to the first vehicle (6), and to make the circuit switching (2) switches the electric power supply line (9) to be connected to the second charger (1) when the second vehicle (6) is connected to the second charger (1) and when a priority assigned to the second vehicle (6) is greater than a priority assigned to the first vehicle (6). A method for controlling a power supply of a vehicle from a first vehicle (6) and a second vehicle (6) from a charger from a first charger (1) and a second charger (1), the method comprising the following steps: causing a switching circuit (2) to connect the power supply line (9) to the first charger (1) connected to the first vehicle (6), and to make the circuit switching (2) switches the power supply line (9) to be connected to the second charger (1) when another vehicle is newly connected to the second charger (1) and when a priority assigned to the second charger (1) charger (1) is greater than a priority assigned to the first charger (1).